Prince of Persia: Warrior Within Review (Flavius Claudius Julianus)
This game really makes you FEEL like you’re an emo Prince.
Given the chance though… I would do unholy things to Kaileena…
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within makes me feel like a damn action hero! It’s been a decade since I last played this classic, but I’m happy to say, I think it aged quite well!
I remember sitting in my friend's house during winter break of 2004 and seeing him play a game with a black monster chasing him. Was hooked instantly and borrowed the game from him after he finished the game. Of course, it was POP WW.
Warrior Within is an action platformer with surprisingly strong combat. Now it’s not the deepest combat system ever, especially by today’s standards. But what is so refreshing and unique about it to this day is how it integrates the environment and your mobility into it.
There are so many contextual moves to string together. Plus you can choose between having a free hand to grab with, or pick up an enemy weapon and gain access to more combos, as well as the ability to throw it. All this combines into a very fluid and dynamic combat system.
Imagine this scenario: you wall-run past an enemy, slashing at them as you do. You then jump off that wall at another foe, spinning like a damn shuriken. As you land, you flip over to that enemy like a graceful gymnast and vault over him, he’s weakened enough now that you can steal his axe and decapitate him with it. Just as you do his friend kicks you from behind, and you’re knocked down.
But instead of getting back up instantly, you stay on the ground and block his downward swing, then roll out of the way. Back on your feet but now surrounded, you retreat with your guard up, until your back is against a wall... which you then run up and descend in a whirlwind of blades, cutting one of the enemies in half.
Two enemies left, you use one as a jumping pad, throwing the axe at him from the air, which lodges in his chest and stuns him. You land on that same wall, which you then launch yourself off and torpedo straight through him. One enemy remaining, you grab him with your free hand, roll onto your back, and kick-launch him off the platform into the very spike pit you were initially wall-running over.
....I may have geeked out a bit there but tell me that doesn’t sound like a cool thing to be able to do in a video game. It’s not too crazy with flashy high-flying combos or lightning fast maneuvers, but I’m surprised there aren’t more action games like this one that let you play off your surroundings rather than just being boxed in by them. Closest thing I have found is Yakuza with its contextual heat actions.
Mad soundtrack too, really upped the atmosphere. Godsmack really made it great. I know the edgy cliche made it a less popular game, but I loved it. The first time the music kicks in and you fight to "I Stand Alone" is an absolute rush. I still get an adrenaline rush just by listening to the first few seconds of I Stand Alone.
This was not a game, but an emotion.
And everything about Kaileena in this game is emotional. She was not our enemy but still our enemy for some unfortunate reasons at the same time. Quite an emotional storyline but I was emo myself back then too so I loved it.
Warrior Within has somehow actually gotten more bad ass and scarier for me as an adult. Story is nothing to write home about but if you want to feel powerful without having to take a blue pill like I do it’s still very much worth your time!
8/10